Target-trap.



TARGET TRAP.

(Application flied Jan. 18, 1901.)

2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES ArtNr intron.r

EDWARD D. SCHMITT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO I-IALLACK A.PENROSE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 687,856, datedDecember '3, 1901. Application filed January 18, 190].. Serial No.43,772. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD D. SCHMITT, a

ejecting clay disks or other artificial birds for the purpose of targetpractice.

The object of the invention is to provide a trap from which the targetwill be ejected by air instead of the usual centrifugal motion. Itconsists in providing a suitable ejector into which the birds or targetsare fed from a suitable magazine and to which air under pressure isadmitted at proper intervals to eject the target. In the course of thefollowing description other objects and advantages of the invention willappear, and the points of novelty set forth in the claims.v

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the'trapcomplete; Fig. 2, a detail plan view of the rear part of the ejector,showing the shutters on which the targets rest preparatory to fallinginto place in the ejector closed. Fig. 3 is a similar view with theshutters open. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view ofthe ejector-magazine air connections and frame. Fig. 5 is a plan View ofa portion of the means for oscillating the ejector. Fig. 6 is anenlarged detail sectional view of the ejector, showing the meansforgiving the target a rotatory motion in flight for the purpose ofpreventing it from` wabbling; and Fig. 7, a cross-section of theejector, more clearly showing this feature. Fig. 8 is adetail moreclearly showing the device for causing friction on the target. Fig.

9 is a perspective of the rear portion of the magazine, ejector, andconnections.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable frame 1, composed inthe main of the top piece 2 and legs 3 and 4, which are sewhich ismounted a sprocket-wheel 8, driven by cranks 9. This sprocket-wheel. bymeans of a chain 10 is in gear with a similar wheel 1l, rigidly mountedin suitable bearings in a downwardly-projecting arm 12 of the frame,which latter sprocket is connected by a pitman-rod 13 to the piston-rod14, forming a part of the pump 15, which may be of any modern orapproved construction adapted to pump air into the receiver during theoper ation of the machine.

Numeral 16 designates the ejector proper, which when adapted to ejectclay birds or disks of the usual design is preferably made of metalstamped to conform to the contour of the target in cross-section and isconnected by means of a hollow shaft 17, which has its upper end openinginto the air-chamber of the ejector and its lower end in communicationwith the receiver 5 by means of a flexible or other joint that willpermit the ejector to be oscillated. This shaft is mounted in suitablebearings 18 and 18 made in the frame.

Thenumeral 19 designates a valve to which is secured an arm 20,extending downwardly and has connection with an operating-lever 21,through the medium of a short slotted arm 22, into which the lower endof said arm 2O extends. The operating-lever is pivoted on a forward partof the frame and has an arm extending upwardly and then laterally inposition to engage a pivoted lug 23, pivotally secured to a shortvertical arm 24, formed integral with one of the shutters 25, which arepivoted, as indicated at 2G, in proximity with the edge of the ejector.These shutters open laterally and in opposite directions, and theirlateral movement is limited by a slotted link 27, and said shutters arenormally held closed by spiral spring 2S, properly secured to theshutters near their rear edges.

The numeral 2S indicates a spiral spring, so arranged as to keep thelever 21in a position to normally close the valve 19, and the rearwardmovement of said lever in the operation of the trapis limited by agraduated stop 29, secured in proper position on the frame.

IOO

The numeral 28" designates an operatingcord attached to lower end of thelever and extending back to any convenient point from Which the operatorcan advantageously operate the trap.

The numeral 30 designates a disk which is rigidly secured to the shaft17 and adapted to oscillate the same through the medium of aconnecting-rod 30', which has its forward end connected to said disk bya knuckle-joint 31, and its rear end is connected with the wheel 32,mounted upon the shaft with Wheel 11. The rod 30' is so connected to thewheel 32 and the disk 30 that when the said wheel 32 is rotated it willcause the disk to make a partial revolution or, in other words,oscillate the same and cause the shaft 17 and ejector carried thereby toplay in a predetermined arc, so that the usual uncertainty as to whatpoint the target will be ejected will be caused, and thus moreeffectually test marksmanship.

The numeral 33 indicates a magazine which is rigidly attached to theejector on its upper side and in position to deliver bygravity thetargets into their proper position upon the shutters. It is highlyimportant that a target of the clay-pigeon variety should be given arotatory motion in Hight for the obvious purpose of insuring the gradualrise of the target and preventing it from wabbling, and I bring aboutthis result by providing an elongated strip 34, which extends from aboutmidway of the length of the ejector to its end and at one side thereof,which is adapted to bear upon the lowest shoulder or" the target with agradually-increasing spring-pressure from the time itengages said stripuntil it leaves the muzzle of the ejector, and this spring-pressure maybe varied by means of short bolts 35, rigidly secured to the strip andpassing through perforations 36 in the lower shoulder of the ejectorandprovided with taps 37, so that the vertical movement of the strip can beregulated. Interposed between the under side of said shoulder and thestrip and surrounding the bolts are weak springs 38, which can obviouslybe tensioned bythe taps being loosened or tightened, as the exigency ofthe case may require.

Having thus described the mechanism of my trap, I Will now proceed todescribe its operation. In operation an attendant takes his place uponthe seat provided upon the frame in a position to attend to the properfilling of the magazine with targets and the delivery of said targets tothe ejector, and by means of the sprocket-and-chain connections thepitman is operated to compress air in the receiver and keep the sameupto a proper preward and past the pivotal lug 23, which will obviouslycause the shutters, through the medium of the arm 24 and link 27, toopen and permit a target to drop from the magazine into proper positionin the ejector, which shutters will immediately close under theinfluence of spring 28. By this time the long arm of the operating-leverwill have moved in a rearward direction sutliciently to open the valvethrough the medium of the arm 20 and permit a sufficient quantity of airunder pressure to be admitted to the ejector behind the target to beejected. This valve is so constructed that desired pressure from thereceiver, ranging, ofcourse, from the minimum to the maximum capacityot' the receiver, may be admitted to the ejector, and this ispredetermined by the graduated stop 29, which limits the backwardmovement of the lever and determines to what extent the valve will beopened when the operating-cord is pulled. It will be noted that as thearcs in which the shutters and the link 27 move are diierent the saidlink will operate against a short pin on the opposite shutter and causeboth shutters to open simultaneously in opposite directions. During therotation of the wheel 32 a reciprocating motion will be given theconnecting-rod 30, thus oscillating or swinging the ejector in apredetermined arc, and it is obvious that as the ejector-shutters arelikely to be operated at any point in said arc I provide the horizontalslightly-cu rved end of the operating-lever, which horizontal arm is ofsuch length as to be always in a position to operate the shutters in itsforward movement, but will pass idly by the pivoted lug 23 on its returnunder the influence of the spring 28 when the operating-cord isreleased.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the exact detailsof construction shown and described, as obvious mechanical equivalentsmay be employed which will bring about the same results in aboutsubstantially the same manner, nor do I limit myself to any particularform of ejector-that is to say, to the one shown, which is adapted forejecting the usual clay bird-for other forms of targets mayadvantageously be ejected. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a target-trap, the combination of a suitable air-supply normallyunder pressure, with a pneumatic ejector and suitable connectionsbetween the air-supply and ejector, whereby air is admitted to theejector behind the target, as set forth.

2. In a target-trap, the combination with an air-supply of a pneumaticejector and suitable connections between said supply and ejector wherebya predetermined amount of air is admitted to the ejector, shuttersmounted upon said ejector and adapted to be opened to permit a target tofall into position in the ejector, and means for opening said shuttersIOO IIO

IIS

to deliver said target to the ejector and close the same after it hasbeen delivered, substantially as set forth.

3. In a target-trap, the combination with the air-su pply and ejector,and suitable connections between the same, of an operatinglever pivotedto a suitable frame, shutters upon the ejector adapted to be opened bysaid lever, and a valve located in said connection between the receiverand ejector, and adapted to be operated by said lever, when said leveris operated, means for restoring the shutters and lever to normalposition, substantially as set forth.

Il. In the described target-trap, the combination with a pneuaticejector having shutters pivoted thereon, of a magazine located inproximity to said shutters and adapted to deliver targets upon theshutters, substantially as described.

5. In a target-trap, the combination of a suitable receiver with anoscillatory pneumatic ejector, means for controlling the air between thereceiver and ejector, and means for oscillating the ejector,substantially as set forth.

6. In a target-trap, the combination with a suitable frame of anoscillatory pneumatic ejector, a hollow shaft connecting said receiverand ejector, a bell-crank lever rigidly secured to said shaft, a rodconnected to said lever and means to give said rod reciprocatingmovement whereby the ejector is oscillated, substantially as described.

7. In a target-trap, the combination with an air-receiver, anoscillatory pneumatic ej ector, of a shaft connecting the receiver andejector and carrying a bell-crank lever, of a crank suitably mountedupon a suitable frame and havinga driving-wheel on the shaft thereof,means for rotating said driving-wheel and a connection between thedriving-wheel crank and the crank on the ejector-shaft, whereby theejector is oscillated when the drivingwheel is driven.

8. In a target-trap, the combination with a receiver and pneumaticejector and means for controlling the supply of air from said receiverto the ejector, of a suitable pump connected with the receiver and adriving-.wheel suitably mounted upon the frame, connections between thepiston of said pump and the driving-wheel whereby air is compressed inthe receiver, when the driving-wheel is driven, substantially as setforth.

9. In the described target-trap, the combination of an air-receiver andoscillatory pneumatic ejector and connections, of a drivingwheelsuitably mounted inthe frame, connections between said driving-wheel andej ector-shaft, connections between said drivingwheel and the pumpwherebyairis compressed in the receiver and the ejector oscillated whenthe driving-wheel is driven.

l0. In a target-trap, the combination-with an automatically-oscillatingejector, of asuitable air-supply normally under pressure, means forcontrolling the air from the said supply to the ejector, and meanscarried by the ejector for producing friction upon a particular part ofthe target as it leaves the ejector, substantially as described.

1l. In a target-trap, the combination of an oscillatory pneumaticejector, of an elongated spring-actuated strip carried therein and onone side thereof, and adapted to bear upon a particular part of thetarget, whereby the same is given a rotatory motion in night.

12. In atarget-trap, the combination witha pneumatic oscillatory ejectorof an elongated strip carried thereby and at one side thereof, shortbolts supporting said strip and-extending through the ejector and havingregulating-screws thereon, springs interposed between the strip and theshoulder of the ejector, as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a target-trap for throwing disk targets, the combination with apneumatic oscil-` latory ejector shaped in cross-section tosubstantially conform to the shape of the disk, 9o of means carried bysaid ejector for producing friction upon a particular part of the targetas it leaves said ejector, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afX my signature 95 in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD D. SCHMITT.

Witnesses:

CAMPBELL CARRINGTON, HALLACK A. PENRosE.

